Puppy Cut Directions

A puppy cut is a low-maintenance hairstyle that looks good on most dogs, regardless of age. A puppy cut is a shorter cut with hair length between a long coat and a shave-down. Perfect for dogs who like to play and get messy and for owners who don't have the time to keep up with the daily brushing and other maintenance that long hair requires. Puppy cuts are typically fairly easy to administer and can be done at home with the proper techniques.

Things You'll Need

  • Slicker brush
  • Hair clippers
  • Number 4 or 5 blade
  • Number 10 blade
  • 5/8 blade
  • Scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Brush your dog with a slicker brush to remove any knots or tangles. If your dog is extremely matted, a puppy cut will not work and you will need to shave it completely down with a short blade.

    • 2

      Place a number 4 or 5 blade on your clippers, and with a downward motion, start clipping from the back of the dog's head down toward its tail. Clip all of the body hair, including the back of the neck, chest and torso. Be sure to shave in a downward direction to keep the cut smooth and even.

    • 3

      Place a number 10 blade on your clippers, and carefully begin shaving the dog's face. Shave the sides of the head, front of the neck, the stomach area and around the anus. You can also shave a little ways down the inside of both back legs to keep tangles at bay.

    • 4

      Shave between and underneath the dog's eyes with a 5/8 blade. Shaving a small area under the eyes will help to avoid tear staining. Shave only a small space between the eyes, and do not shave all the way down the dog's muzzle or you will create a pointy-nosed look.

    • 5

      Use your scissors to trim the top of the dog's head into a mushroom-cap shape. Trim the beard and mustache from the corner of the mouth forward into a circle. Comb the ears and use the scissors to trim the hair even with the length of the ear, or leave it longer, if desired.

    • 6

      Trim the hair on the legs with the scissors. Leave the hair about 1½ inches long on the legs, if possible.

    • 7

      Comb the tail and hold it straight out so that all the hair falls down. Use the scissors to cut the hair about 2 inches long.